The victory – their first in Dublin since 2012 – could not have come in a more commanding fashion, with the Springboks’ power too much for the home side, who paid dearly for their reply to the green and gold onslaught with a number of players sent to the sin bin, while they also conceded a 20-minute red card as their lack of respect to the laws almost descended the game into chaos.

It was rugby at its best and at its worst, with the South Africans knowing they came with the right attitude and skill set into this game, based on an unbeatable scrum and a never-say-die attitude on defence.

The Bok scrum, in particular, was totally dominant and English referee Matthew Carley had no option but to issue a number of yellow cards to Ireland, which was scant reward to the heroes of the match, Wilco Louw, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Johan Grobbelaar, Boan Venter and Gerhard Steenekamp, backed by remaining forward warriors who refused to budge all evening.

The Boks are not a one trick pony though as their first try showed. Fullback Damian Willemse scored five minutes in after a delightful intervention by Damian de Allende, with the inside centre’s late run and delayed pass exposing the Irish defence.

Their second try, scored by Cobus Reinach in his 49^th Test match, came from blunt force by the Bok pack. Ireland, at that time already punished for their disrespect to the laws of the game, only had 13 players on the field and after a number of scrum resets, the Bok scrumhalf scored his 19^th Test try following a show and go.

Ireland had their moments in fighting back, but had a try disallowed for a dangerous clean by James Ryan on Malcolm Marx at a ruck preceding their try, while Boan Venter had his try disallowed due to a forward pass in the lead-up to what would have been another feather in the forwards’ cap.

Cobus Reinach goes over for his try.

The hosts played some decent rugby at times, as their try in the first half showed. Dan Sheehan crossed the Bok tryline with only 13 players on the field for Ireland, but the visitors rebounded with a series of powerful scrums, forcing Carley to award them a penalty try late in the half.

Ireland started the second half with 13 men, but cut the lead to nine points when Sam Prendergast, back onto the field following his yellow card, kicked a penalty goal.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu then raced in after another monstrous Bok scrum. Louw got a massive right shoulder and the Irish turned their defensive shoulders too soon and paid the price as the attacking instincts of the Bok flyhalf kicked in as he ran hard and straight and into space to score. The conversion went wide, but at 24-10 it was looking good for the Boks.

Prendergast kicked another penalty goal in what turned out to be the last points, but what a final quarter followed.

The Springboks scrum forced Carley to dish out another yellow to the Irish front row, but Ireland survived a horrid quarter and managed to repel the Boks by hook and by crook.

They attacked with desperation in the final 10 minutes and had some chances, but the final result was signed and sealed by the preceding 70 minutes with power and precision from a Springbok side that currently have no peers in the game.

Scorers:

Ireland 13 (7) – Try: Dan Sheehan. Conversion: Jack Crowley. Penalty goals: Sam Prendergast (2).

Springboks 24 (19) – Tries: Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach, Penalty Try, Sacha Feinberg- Mngomezulu. Conversion: Feinberg- Mngomezulu.